Frame Ledger / output review

Review an Export as a Separate File

Check the delivered object rather than only the editing preview.

The decision

The export is the object another person receives. Its dimensions, compression, filename, and metadata can differ from what the editing workspace shows.

A practical sequence

Export a small sample to a dedicated destination. Open the actual resulting file in a separate viewer. Confirm the selected version, orientation, crop, and pixel dimensions. Examine the whole image at expected display size and inspect important details at a larger view. Only then export the rest using the verified settings, and sample the resulting group again.

Worked example

A newsletter image might look correct in the editor but emerge with an old square crop because the wrong version was selected. Another might have an unexpected filename inherited from a previous export preset. Opening the exported file catches both problems earlier than sending a folder whose thumbnails merely look familiar.

What can go wrong

Do not assume a preview accurately predicts every receiving device. If the recipient provides file requirements, check those explicitly. Avoid claiming print quality solely from a large pixel count. Color management, medium, viewing conditions, and the actual printing workflow may all matter.

Your completion record

Record the output destination, checked sample names, dimensions, and any changed settings. Keep the review record with the delivery manifest. A successful export command is a process event; a reviewed export is a checked deliverable.

Before continuing, check the record against the actual files rather than relying on memory. Keep uncertain decisions labeled as uncertain. The next useful step is the specific task named in your completion record, not a fresh pass through the entire archive.

If a sample fails, change one setting and make another sample before replacing the full set. Keep the failed sample clearly separate from delivery. A quick comparison between the two exports makes the effect of the changed setting visible.